Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), its salts and precursors

Update

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of human-made substances. In April 2021, the Government of Canada indicated that it is considering activities that would address PFAS as a class. Visit the PFAS web page for the latest information on publications and actions being considered under the Government’s Chemicals Management Plan related to PFAS.

On this page

• Risk management action milestones
• Adding substances to Schedule 1
• Final screening assessment and proposed risk management approach
• Draft screening assessment and risk management scope

Risk management action milestones

In May 2022, the proposed Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2022 were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, Vol. 156, No. 20 - May 14, 2022 for a 75-day public comment period. The proposed regulations would strengthen existing controls on certain harmful substances, including PFOA, and put new prohibitions in place for 2 substances.

In addition, a proposed order to amend Schedule 3 (the Export Control List) to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) was published for a 75-day public comment period. The objective of the proposed order is to establish export controls on certain substances, including PFOA, to help ensure Canada's continued compliance with the Rotterdam Convention. The proposed order would come into force on the day on which the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2022 come into force.

In December 2018, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada published the Consultation Document on Proposed Amendments to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012 for PFOS, PFOA, LC-PFCAs, HBCD, PBDEs, DP and DBDPE. The objective of the consultation document was to inform stakeholders of the proposed amendments to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012, solicit comments and request information. Comments and information received in response to the consultation document were considered in the development of the proposed Regulations to Amend the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012.

In October 2018, a notice of intent was issued in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 152, No. 41 - October 13, 2018 indicating that the Department of the Environment and the Department of Health were initiating the development of amendments to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012. There was a 30-day consultation period associated with this publication. Comments received on this publication were considered in the development of the proposed Regulations to Amend the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012.

In October 2016, the Regulations Amending the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012 were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 150, No. 20 - October 5, 2016 and came into force in December 2016. These amendments prohibit PFOA, its salts and its precursors and products containing them, unless present in manufactured items. Time-limited exemptions and ongoing uses were provided for certain uses where the development of alternatives was underway or where there were no known alternatives. For these amendments, compliance-related materials include the Substance prohibition summary for PFOA, LC-PFCAs and related substances and the Aqueous film-forming foam and the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations fact sheet.

In April 2015, the proposed Regulations Amending the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012 were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 149, No. 14 - April 4, 2015, for a 75-day public comment period. Comments received during this period were considered in the final development of these regulations. Comments and the Government's response are provided in the summary of public comments received on the proposed Regulations Amending the Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012.

In January 2014, a Consultation Document on the Proposed Risk Management Measure for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), its Salts and its Precursors was published. Comments and the Government's response are provided in the summary of public comments on consultation document on the proposed risk management measure for PFOA, its salts and its precursors. Comments received were considered during the development of the proposed risk management action.

In March 2010, a voluntary environmental performance agreement respecting PFCAs and their precursors in perfluorochemical products sold in Canada was signed. Signatories to the performance agreement agreed to reduce the amount of PFOA and LC-PFCAs in perfluorinated chemicals in Canadian commerce by 95% by December 31, 2010, and to eliminate them by December 31, 2015. The performance agreement was implemented as an early risk management action while Environment Canada and Health Canada pursued further assessment to guide future risk management actions. As a result of the agreement, participating companies successfully met their commitment to eliminate residual PFOA, LC-PFCAs and their precursors.

In June 2006, a notice of action plan for the assessment and management of PFCAs and their precursors was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 140, Nº. 44 - June 17, 2006. The action plan included measures to prevent the introduction of new substances into Canada that would contribute to the level of PFCAs in the environment, and to seek action from industry to address sources of PFCAs already in Canadian commerce.

Adding substances to Schedule 1

PFOA, its salts and its precursors have been added to Schedule 1.

• Final order adding PFOA, its salts and its precursors: Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 147, No. 23 - November 6, 2013

Final screening assessment and proposed risk management approach

In August 2012, the Final Screening Assessment on Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), its Salts and its Precursors was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 146 No. 34 - August 25, 2012.

The final ecological screening assessment concluded that PFOA, its salts and its precursors meet one or more of the criteria in section 64 of the CEPA 1999. Additionally, it is concluded that PFOA and its salts meet the criteria for persistence but does not meet the criteria for bioaccumulation potential set out in the Persistence and Bioaccumulation Regulations. Nevertheless, the weight of evidence is sufficient to conclude that PFOA and its salts accumulate and biomagnify in terrestrial and marine mammals.

A Proposed Risk Management Approach on Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), Its Salts, and Its Precursors was also released on August 25, 2012, for a 60-day public comment period. Comments and the Government's response are provided in the summary of public comments on the proposed risk management approach on PFOA, its salts, and its precursors. Comments received were considered during the development of the proposed risk management action.

Draft screening assessment and risk management scope

In October 2010 the Draft Screening Assessment on PFOA, its Salts and its Precursors was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 144, No. 44 - October 30, 2011. A risk management scope was also released in conjunction with this publication.

The draft screening assessment of 1 of the PFOA salts (CAS RN 3825-26-1), and 4 potential PFOA precursor substances (CAS RNs 678-39-7, 53515-73-4, 65530-61-2 and 70969-47-0), was conducted under sections 68 and 74 of the CEPA 1999 because they were found to meet the ecological categorization criteria for persistence and/or bioaccumulation potential and inherent toxicity to non-human organisms.

The draft screening assessment of PFOA and the other PFOA salts and potential precursor substances was conducted under section 68 of CEPA 1999, because they were not found to meet the categorization criteria, or they were not categorized since they do not appear on the Domestic Substances List (DSL).

The draft screening assessment proposed to conclude that PFOA, its salts and its precursors met one or more of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA 1999.

The public comments received were considered and addressed within the final screening assessment, and are provided in the summary of public comments received on the draft screening assessment on PFOA, its salts and its precursors.